Ribbon protector



Jan. 11, 1955 o. w. MARKES RIBBON PROTECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 15, 1950 INVENTOR. ORLAND W. MARKES.

Jan. 11, 1955 o. w. MARKES RIBBON PROTECTOR Filed March 15, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m w m m ORLAND W. MARKES.

I BY

RIBBON PROTECTOR OrlandW. Markes, Detroit, Mich.; Robert Orland Markes, administrator of said Orland W. Markes, deceased Application March 15, 1950, Serial No. 149,666

2 Claims. (Cl. 197-151) My invention relates to a new and usefulimprovement in a ribbon protector and is adapted for that class of machines in which a type bearing bar is used in such a manner that the type strikes the ribbon to make the impression on the paper or other material on which the typing is to be done. The invention is adapted for use on adding machines, calculating machines and so forth in which the ribbon impression is made.

In such types of machines there are several disadvantages. Among these are that the ribbon becomes worn out quite rapidly by being struck by the type. Another is that, particularly on calculating machines, the striking of the type against the ribbon will cause a spreading or splattering of the ink. Another disadvantage is that the type becomes clogged with dust or dirt together with ink thus making it impossible to obtain a clear impression even though the ribbon itself may be a new one.

The present invention has as one of its objects the protection of the type from contact with the ink bearing ribbon reducing to a large extent the dirtying of the type and maintaining a clear impression at all times.

Another object of the invention is the provision in machines of this class of a device whereby the splattering or spreading of the ink will be prevented and whereby the wear on the ribbon will be considerably reduced.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device adapted for use in machines of this type which will eliminate considerable smeary work in pre-inking ribbons and removing and replacing ribbons as well as cleaning the type when it becomes dirty.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

It is recognized that various modifications and changes may be made in the detail of structure illustrated without departing from the invention and it is intended that the present disclosure shall be considered but the preferred embodiment.

hFtillmiIlg a part of this specification are drawings in w to Fig. 1 is a top plan schematic view illustrating the invention,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a top plan schematic view illustrating a modification,

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 4 with parts being shown in elevation and parts in section,

Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 are sectional views taken on line 66 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 5 showing one of the spools moved to unlocking position.

In the drawings I have illustrated a platen 15 which is a roller of well known type and construction used on typewriters, calculating machines and the like. This platen forms the backstop of the papers, cards or the like upon which the typing is to be done. An inked ribbon 16 is wound upon the spools 18 and in the ordinary operation of the machine winds on the one spool while it unwinds from the other. This ribbon 16 passes around the guide rollers 19, the pins 20, the guide plates 21 and thru the retainer 22.

The ribbon protector is a non-inked body which is placed between the ribbon 16 and the type 17 so that as the type is moved out to strike the ribbon 16 it will first strike the protector 24 which may be unwound from a United States Patent 0 suitable roll 23 or it may be formed of individual lengths so that when it is necessary to remove and replace the protector the individual lengths may be removed or replaced. Where a roll is used another section would be unwound from the roll to span the space at which the type are adapted to operate. This protector may be of the same width as the inked ribbon 16 or it may be of a difierent width. It is necessary, however, that it be of suificient width to receive the impression from'the type whether this type be an individual type or an impression plate such as are used on addressing machines. The protecting members 24 may be made from any suitable material 'which is sufficiently flexible and which has long wearing qualities. Experience has shown that a ribbon formed from nylon is quite satisfactory for this purpose as it has the necessary thinness, flexibility and durability. This protector, of course, is maintained in a fairly taut condition in front of the inked ribbon 16, the tautness of the protector corresponding substantially to the tautness of the inked ribbon 16.

In the drawings I have illustrated a bracket 26 having an upstanding plate 27, the base of this bracket 26 being mounted upon a suitable support 25 which is customarily found on machines of this nature. An outwardly projected tongue 23 is formed on the upper end of the plate 27 and extended thru this tongue is a pin 29 having the angularly turned portion 30 at its upper end. As shown in Fig. 3, the pin 28 is cut away at one side so that it will serve the purpose of a cam clamp. The ribbon 24 is fed between the plate 27 and the pin 28 while the cut away side of the pin 28 is faced toward the plate 27. One of the pins 28 is then turned into the position shown in Fig. 3 so that the ribbon is clamped tightly against the plate 27. The ribbon is then passed around the guide posts 62 and drawn taut in front of the type 17. The opposite end of the ribbon is similarly drawn into position and clamped on the other clamping bracket. In Fig. l l have shown this protector 24 unrolled from a roll 23. However, the ribbon itself may be cut to various lengths so that it reaches only from one clamping member to the other.

In Fig. 4, Fig. 5, Fig. 6, Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 I have shown a different method of supporting the roll. 23 of the protector. The ribbon spools 18 shown in Fig. l are mounted on the support 25 by means of the screw 31 on which is threaded a nut 32 which bears against the upper side of the spools 18. As shown in Fig. 5 I provide a pair of spools, each consisting of a cup shaped member. of these has a base 41 and the wall 42. Telescoping with this cup shaped member is a similar cup shaped member having a top 43 and a wall 44. The top 43 is provided with an opening 45 in which a sleeve 47, split as at 48, is adapted to project. This sleeve is formed preferably integral with the disk 46 and held in position by the wire 49. The wall 42 is provided with a slot as at 50 thru which the protector 24 may be extended. The wall 44 is provided with a slot 51. When these slots are brought into registration the protector 24 may be fed inwardly and outwardly of this spool. Mounted on the inner surface of the wall 44 adjacent one of its ends is a leaf spring 52 having a bowed out portion 53. When the walls 44 and 42 are moved relatively to each other, this bowed out portion will serve to clamp the protector 24 and hold it tight so as to prevent its being fed inwardly or outwardly of the spool. This spool is held in position by being placed over the nut 32, the base 41 having an opening 54 thru which the nut 32 may be extended so that this nut serves as a support to prevent lateral movement of the base 41. A cooperating spool is provided having a base 33 and a wall 34 and telescoping with this cup shaped member is a similar cup shaped member having the top 35 and the wall 36. A slot 37 is formed in the wall 36 and a slot 38 is formed in the wall 34. Mounted at one end on the inner surface of the wall 36 is a leaf spring 39 having the outwardly bowed portion 40 so arranged that when these slots are moved out of registering position this bowed portion will serve to clamp the protector and hold it in position as already described. The protector 24 fed from these spools would, of course, pass around the clamping mechanisms shown clearly in Fig. l and the protector brought into taut position in One.

ribbon protector would, of course, :be inserted in the slit 48 so that as the tube or sleeve 47 is rotated the protector would be wound upon this member.

It is believed obvious that if desired the protector may be moved with each operation of the type as is customary in some machines with the inked ribbon. It is believed obvious that other forms of securing the protector at opposite sides ofthe type may be resorted to instead vof using the clamping mechanism illustrated as it is but necessary that this (protector be sulficiently taut to be retained in front of the inked ribbon and not to interfere with the operation of the machine.

A protector of this type has proved quite eflicient in use as it does prolong the life of the inked ribbon and prevents the undesirable splattering or spreading of the ink. Atthe same time-the tace of the type is kept clean and efficient operation of the type bars becomes possible Without the use of the protector dirt and foreign material and particularly dust mixed with the ink will interfere with the proper operation of the type bars until eventually these type bars begin to stick resulting in an imperfect operation of the machine,

of said bank; a pair of clamps each positioned at one side of said *bank on said supporting-bodies;-anda protective ribbon of flexible non-inked material engaging said posts and extending between the inked ribbon and said bank and held in taut condition against said posts by said clamps, said clamps being movable into operative position and inoperative position and each movable in dependently of the other.

2. In a writing machine-(embodying an inked ribbon and a plurality of type'beari'ng members arranged in a bank and positioned in straight lineal alignment, normally in spaced relation to the inked ribbon andzselectively individually movable into engagement with the inked ribbon for "forcing an impression therethrough: a pair of supporting bodies at opposite sides of said bank; a post on each of said supporting bodies at opposite sides of said bank; a pair of engagement members each positioned at one side of said bank on said supporting bodies;

and a protective ribbon of flexible non-inked material engaging said posts and having a portionextending between the linked ribbon and said bank'and engaged and held'in taut ,condition against said posts by said engagement members, said engagement members being movazblento engaging and non-engag ng position against said-noninked ribbon whereby said non-1nked ribbon, .upon movement of said engagement members to non-engagingposrtion, may be moved longitudinally -;for locatinganother :portion thereof between said inked ribbon and'lsaid bank.

\ References Cited in the-file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

